Improvement in machines for shaping springs



E. c. LEWIS. MACHINE FOR SHAPING SPRINGS.

No.188,922-, Patented March 27,1877.

ATTORNEYS.

N-PETER$. FHOTO-LITHOGHAPIIER, WASHINGTON. D C.

sponding parts.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD O. LEWIS,,OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES E.TAFT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SHAPING SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,922, dated March27, 1877; application filed December 18, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

' machine for shaping springs, and Fig. 3 a detail side view of one ofthe shaping-lugs.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- The object of my inventionis to furnish it improved machine for automatically shaping or fittingsprings in perfect and quick manner,

by any unskilled workman, so as to supersede the present imperfectmethod of pinching the heated spring leaves or plates into form by meansof tongs, operated by skilled workmen.

The invention consists of an interchangeable solid former in connectionwith a flexible former, and a hinged drop for straightening the edges ofthe leaves or plates. The flexible former is composed of lugs, which arechanneled along the center in the direction of the longitudinal axis ofthe same.

In the drawing, A represents the solid form er, and A the flexibleformer, which are both supported on a bed-plate, B, the solid formerbeing secured thereto by a screw-bolt, B. The bed-plate B rests onsuitable supportingstandards 0, which carry at one side an upright armor post, a, with screw-cam or knuckle device E, and at the opposite sideposts 11, to which a solid drop, F, With handle I, to operate the same,is hinged, and supported in upright position by an arm, F, of thebedplate. The drop-block serves to straighten the edges of the plates inconjunction with the bed-plate, while they are shaped by the formers.The solid former A may be interchanged for the purpose of shapingsprings of difi'erent' sizes, while the flexible former A is adapted tofit any size and shape of springs. The flexible former is constructed ofa number of steel lugs, 01, which are riv- 'eted to a band, 0, or whenthe shaping machine is made in larger size the lugs are connected insuch a manner as to form a continuous chain, each lug forming a link. Asecond band,f, bears on the back of the first band,

or directly on the connecting-links'of the lugs,

and is attached at the ends to a rigid bowshaped bar, G, to the centerpart of which the compressing screw-bolt or equivalent mechanism isapplied.

The logs d ot' the flexible former are channeled along the center, thechannels d"running in the direct-ion of the longitudinal axis of theformer. The object of the channels is to produce the instant chilling ofthe edges of the leaves or plates, while leaving them slightly warm atthe center to draw down the temper somewhat. The heated plates areplaced on a center pin of the solid former, and then exposed to theaction of the cold formers, which are strongly pressed together by thescrew, so as to shape, chill, and temper the hot plate, as firmly as bythe present method of dipping them in water, by which they are alwaysmore or less warped. The plates when taken from the shaping machine areready to be bolted, and require no further manipulation, being shapedand tempered in a superior, quick, and economical manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination, with rigid former A, of theflexible former A, consisting of the metallic lugs 01 riveted to anelastic band, 0, as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the shaping formers A A'and bed B, of a drop,F, attached to a hinged arm, F, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with flexible t'ormerd e, of the bandf, rigid bow g,and screw E, arranged as and for the purpose specified.

EDWARD O. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. LEWIs, HORACE T. COOK.

